Spring plank for railway-car trucks



Oct. 6,1925. 1,555,983

- B. w. KADEL SPRING PLANK FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Filed Sept. '2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /-5 EE v /7 /.9

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I I llll lIlllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllll llll a k N III/All 1,555,983 B. w. KADEL SPRING-PLANK FOR RAILWAY CAB TRUCKS Filed Sept. 7, 192:5 4 Shets-Sheet 2 "f lllllllllllll gg/ 0 x 7 M m w HVVY M w W m HUM m B u m n V i if a 5 n & a H n x o m m Oct. 6

Oct. 6, 1925.

B. W. KADEL SPRING PLANK FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Filed Sept. '7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 6, 1925.

B. w. KADEL SPRING PLANK FOR RAILWAY CAR TRUCKS Sept. '7, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed q 7 Z MU w m2 8" n 21. n m6 fa 5" 5" w W W ow J a Patented Oct. 6, 1925 UNITED STATES 1,555,983 PATENT OFFKIE.

IBYEBS W. KADEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

SPRING PLANE FOR RAILWAY-CAB. TRUCKS.

Application filed September 7, 1923. Serial No. 661,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYERS W. KADEL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring ;Planks for Railway-Car Trucks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates, to spring planks for railway car trucks, and more particularly to an improved construction of spring plank seat member adapted, for use on wrought metal side frames.

One of the principal features of the invention is to provide a spring plank seat member having longitudinally extending depending portions designed to engage neighboring portions of the side frame adjacent the lower portion of the bolster opening, and

upright portions disposed transversely of said depending portions and connected thereto, said upright portions being adapted to bridge the longitudinally extending portions for distributing the load transversely of the side frame to the depending portions, which latter act to transmit the load longitudinally of the side frame.

Another object of the invention consists in constructing a spring plank seat member with vertically disposed transversely extending ribs or flan es, said ribs being arranged at opposite encs of the seat member and shaped to receive a spring plank of channel crosssection to which they are connected, said construction adapting a wrought metal side frame for use with a spring plank designed to receive a plurality of advantageously disposed bolster springs.

A further object 'ofthe invention involves the production of a strong construction of spring plank seat member having a. body ortion adapted to rest upon the beam member of the side frame the full distance of the bolster opening longitudinally of the side frame, said body portion having its opposite ends shaped to conform to the corner portions of the bolster openings at the unction of the truck column with the cam member, the upstanding ribs of the seat member intersecting said body portion near the ends thereof and being continued upon each side of the bolster opening a distance section.

substantially corresponding to the lateral extensions of the body portion disposed upon each side of the bolster opening.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a reliable spring plank construction involving a saddle casting having a spring plank connected thereto, a portion of the means connecting the spring plank to said casting being advantageously dispose-d adjacent the spring seating surface of the plank and adapted to retain the bolster springs in their respective positions.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing a strong but comparatively light weight spring plank seat member in which the associated longitudinal and transverse ribs are effectively reinforced by a plurality of advantageously arranged flanges, the relation of the several ribs and flanges providing for uniform distribution of the loads to the side. frame and more especially those portions neighboring the seat casting.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter referred to and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating two embodiments of my invention as applied to a wrought metal car truck side frame,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View of a wrought metal car truck side frame showing my improved spring plank construction applied thereto. v

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View through the side frame shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the spring plank construction in plan view.

Figure 3 is a viewin end elevation of the spring plank seat member and spring plank connected thereto, the adjacent portion of the side frame being shown in transverse Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sec- Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, my improved spring plank construction is shown applied to a wrought metal side frame having an inner wall 1 and an outer wall 2, each of said walls being preferably formed with top arch bar, portions providing .the compression member (not shown), bottom arch bar portions forming the tension member, and particularly the beam portion 3 thereof,

and truck column portions 4 uniting said compression and tension members of the truck. In the present construction of side frame the sidesof the truck column portions adjacent the bolster opening are bordered by stiffening flanges 5. The column stiffening flanges are designed to merge into flanges 6 which border the lower end of the bolster opening, said flanges in addition to stifi'ening the inner and outer walls being also designed to provide a spring plank seat adapted to receive the seat portion of the spring plank. The truck column stiffening flanges merge into the corresponding stiffening flanges at the base of'the bolster opening through a suitable curving of the flanges at their respective points of junction, portions of the spring plank construction being designed to coact with these curved corner portions in establishing a rigid connection between the spring plank and side frame whereby the loads are effectively transmitted to portions of said frame which are best able to receive them.

The spring plank is formed of a structural channel the web 7 thereof at each end providing a relatively wide and flat connecting portion between the flanged sides 8 upon which the bolster springs are positioned. The flanges 8 of the spring plank project upwardly from the seat portion 7 at right angles thereto and in relative close proximity to the truck columns, said flanges being relatively thickened at their junctions with the web and providing a strong transverse construction the loads from which must be properly distributed ,to the side frame whereby the critical points of the frame will not be subjected to damaging strains resulting in failureof the side frame. The means by which the transverse loads are distributed to the side frame involves a spring plank seat member 9 having an upper seat portion adapted to receive the spring plank and an under portion designed to rest upon the beam member of the frame and embrace the oppositely disposed side walls of the side frame with portions of said seat member contacting the lower corner bends of the bolster opening.

The seat member or saddle casting is provided with longitudinally extending depending ribs or flanges 10, saidflanges being disposed to embrace the neighboring portions of the side frame adjacent the bolster openseparation of the walls of the side frame at this point. The ribs 10 are arranged in mg and acting to resist any spreading or spaced parallel relation and preferably extend substantially the full length of the bolster opening, said ribs being adapted to distribute the strains longitudinally of the side frame after receiving them from the transverse ribportions projecting from the body portion of the seat member.

The transverse portions of the seat member involve upright ribs or flanges 11 arranged atthe respective ends thereof, the

spring plank being fitted between said ribs.

and having its flanged sides secured against the inner faces of said ribs by rivets 12, said connection providing a rigid construction whereby the transverse loads are first reverse ribs are designed to project beyond the opposite side walls, said projecting portions being suitably braced by reinforcing flanges and designed to receive the rivets 12, the inner heads of which are preferably flattened as shown to provide for the introduction of the bolster springs. The projecting portions of the transverse ribs extend beneath the ceived by said ribs and then redistributed, longitudinally of the side frame. The transspring plank and are united to the longitudinally disposed ribs 10.

Each transverse vertical rib 11 is reinforced by vertical longitudinally disposed angular flanges 13, said reinforcing flanges preferably constituting continuations of the dependingribs 10 in an upward direction at each end of the seat member. Horizontally disposed reinforcing angular flanges 14 are also provided, said flanges lying preferably in the same horizontal plane as the body portion of the seat member and serving to. embrace the casting at the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse ribs.

The respective ends of the seat member and particularly that portion lying between the reinforcing flanges 13 are each relatively thickened and shaped both longitudinally and laterally to conform to the contour of the adjacent corner bends of the bolster opening at the junctions of the beam member and truck columns. This construction assures a rigid connection between the spring plank and side frame whereby the transverse and longitudinal loads are unilines in Fig. 2;

formly distributed at the critical points in the side 'frame and absorbed by the side frame without distortion of the side walls or side frame portions provided therein.

The body portion of the spring plank seat member is extended laterally upon each side of the bolster opening, the spring plank being connected to said extensions by means of rivets 15 the upper heads of which are countersunk to provide smooth seating surfaces for the springs. One of the rivets 16 connecting the spring plank to the relatively larger inner extension of the seat member is formed. with its head portion projecting upwardly to provide bolster spring retaining means, the bounding edges of the springs being indicated by dot and dash The outer edge of the seat member is provided with a flange 17, said flange being of,

' a height corresponding to the thickness of the web 7 of the spring plank, whereby it affords a spring seatin surface flush with the seating surface of t e spring plank. The

inner portionof the flange 17 is preferably enlarged to'""'receive portions of adjacent bolster springs, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, said portion being interrupted, however, with a vertically proing used in the foregoin' jecting lug 18 disposed in transverse alinement with the rivet head 16 and having its inner face curved to conform to adjacent curved portions f the springs. A conven ient and 'very reliable mounting of the bolster springs is provided as the result of this combination, a particular style and arrangement of standardA. R. A. spring beembodiment of the invention. The flange edge 17 is preferably braced at each end by angular flanges 19, said flanges being united to the laterally projecting ends of the transverse ribs 11. J

Reinforcing angular flanges 20 are provided for the lateral extensions of the body portions of the seat member, said flanges paralleling the transverse ribs 11 and being located therebetween. It will be observed that the seat member is grooved transversely thereof at the junction of the inner faces of the transverse ribs with the adjacent upper seating surface, thereby permitting a full right angular disposition of the metal in the spring plank at'this juncture point with correspondingly increased strength value.

'In the modified construction of my invention shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, the

pressed metal spring plank 21 is provided with relatively wide end portions forming spring seating surfaces, the flanged sides of the plank being ofi'set adjacent said end portions and extending through the bolster opening :in close proximity to the truck columns The spring plank seat m mber22 is interposed between the spring plank and side frame, the upper surface of .the seat member being shaped to receive the spring plank 21, and the under face thereof being designed to rest upon the beam portion of said frame and conform to the contour of the corners of the bolster opening at the junctions of the truck columns with said beam portion. 1

The side frame to which the seat casting is shown applied is of the wrought metal type, the mergence of the truck column stiffening flanges 5 into the corresponding st-ifiening flanges 6 at the base of the bolster opening being effected through gradual curving of the fiangles at their respective points of juncture, t e radius of curvature of the merging stiflening flanges being greater than the radius of curvature of the spring plank at the junction of the spring seating surface thereof with the side flanges of the plank, as clearly shown in Figs. 9

and 11. The lower face of t-hespring plank seat member is formed with corresponding gradual curves at its opposite ends, but the upper surface of said seat member adjacent said ends is diflerently shaped and curved to receive the spring plank, the curvature of which latter is designed to provide adequate clearance between the side edges of the spring plank and truck columns. The construction of spring plank and seat mem ber lends itself very well in permitting the metal of the beam portion of the side frame to be increased in depth and consequent strength value Without reducing the clearance between the bottom of the side frame and the top of the rail, the increase in metal at these critical points ofi'ering great resistance to the strains incident to service conditions. A corresponding increase in strength istherefore given the beam member when the bolster opening is (designed to receive the bolster springs in the arrangement shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7.

The spring plank seat member or saddle casting 22 comprises a body portion having ribbed under face of the seat member pro-' vides for a very strong but comparatively light weight casting capable of sustaining the loads and preventing separation. of the side frame walls at this point of frame.

Upstanding transversely disposed ribs or flanges 26 are provided near each end: of the seat member, said ribs acting to distribute the transverse loads to the longitudinally extending ribs or flanges 23 through the body portion of the casting. The end portions of the transverse ribs project beyond the bolster opening upon each-end thereof and are connected to the flanged sides. of the spring plank by rivets 27 Intermediate portions of each transverse rib may be cut away as indicateohat 28 for purposes of lightening the casting without sacrificing its strength value. The transverse -ribs between the depending flanges 23 are merged into the body portion of the seat member with their upper and lower surfaces difthe side ferently curved corresponding to the adja cent curved surfaces of the spring plank and side frame portions at the lower co-r-,

ners of the bolster opening. Beyond the depending flanges the mergence of the transverse ribs and lateral extensions of the seat member is preferably effected through a uniform curving of the respective upper and lower faces as illustrated in Fig. 6. Each transverse rib is preferably braced bymetal flanges 29. said flanges being disposed in longitudinal alinement with the depending flanges 23 of which they form continuations at each end of the seat member.

The opposite end portions of the casting are preferably thickened as at 30, said portions serving torigidly position the seat member between the truck columns and uniformly impart the loads longitudinally of the side frame. The interrupted portions of the ribbed under face are continued through the said thickened ends to permit of the weld or rivet connection being continued around the lower corners of the bolster opening. The end portions of the depending flanges 23 are preferably enlarged as shown in Fig. 6, this increase in metal acting to resist the forces developed at the ends ofthe seat member incident to the squaring action of the truck. A plurality of reinforcing flanges 31 are also provided between the respective end portions for, integrallyuniting the depending flanges with the lateral extension of the body portion of the seat member.

The spring plank is adapted to be connected to the lateral extension of the seat member by a plurality of rivets 32,the' innermost rivets having their heads projecting above the spring seating surface to form a s rin retainin means; The outerrivetsv are designed to pass through a raised portion 33 of the. spring p1ank,said portion beingdisposed in alinement with the heads to conform the bounding ed e portions of the bolster springs whereby t ey are retained in position .upon the spring plank. The outer rivets are connected tothe adjacent lateral extension of the seat member, which extensiomalong the outeredge and adjacent that portion receiving said rivets,

may be cut away as at 34k between the adjacent reinforcing'flanges 31.

Filling washers .35 are preferably inserted between the raised portions 33 of the. spring plank and the upper face of the seat member.

The seat member 22 is formed with an upstanding annular rib 36 adapted to form a pivot boss for the spring plank which is provided with an opening 37 into which the annular rib projects. This construction permits of a connection between the spring plank in such a manner as to prevent displacement of the bolster springs.

It will be understood that various other embodiments of spring plank and spring plank seat can be produced, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the disclosures herein. i

I claim 1. The combination with a car truck side frame, of a spring plank and a seat member having a body portion providing a seat-- ing surface for said plank, said body portion being formed with longitudinally disposed ribs arran ed to embrace the side frame and upstan ingtransversely disposed ribs bridging the longitudinal ribs and connected to the spring plank.

2. The combination with a car truck side frame, of a s ring plank-and a seat memher having a ody portion providing a seating surface for said plank, said'body portion having depending longitudinally disposed flanges embracing neighboring portions of the side frame and vertically disposed transversely extending flanges bridg-- ing said depending flanges, said vertical flanges being connected to the spring plank and designed to impart the transverse loads the full 'width of said seat member. 3. The combination with a ca'rftruck side frame of a plank, and a seat member having- :a body portion providing a seating surface for said plank, said body portion having a plurality of vertically disposed intersecting flanges, said flanges extending substantially the width and length of the seat member and being adapted to transfer the transverse loads longitudinally of the side frame.

4. The combination with a railway car truck of oppositely disposed sidev frame-= and means including a spring plank rigidly connecting said side frames, said means involving longitudinally and transversely tending upright ribs provided on said spring plank, some of said ribs being adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the side frame and other of said ribs'being arranged-to bridge the ribs embracing the side frame for transferring the transverse loads of the truck longitudinally of the side frame.

5. The combination with a car truck side frame. having truck columns and a bolster opening, of a spring plank extending into said opening and a seat member providing a seating surface for said" plank, said seat member having end portions contactmg' neighboring portions of the side frame ad jacent the lower ends of the truck columns and a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending ribs, said ribs intersecting eachother adjacent the end portions of the seat member.

6. The combination with a car truck side frame having truck columns and a bolster opening, of a spring plank having a relatively wide spring supporting surface extending into said opening, and a spring plank seat member formed with a seating surface for the spring plank extending substantially the full length of the bolster opening, said seat member being provided with longitudinally extending ribs embracing neighboring portions of the side frame throughout the length of the seat member and transversely disposed ribs bridging said longitudinal ribs in close proximity to the truck columns, said transverse ribs transverse ribs and adapted to embrace neighboring portions of the side frame. 7

9. The combination with a car truck side frame, of a spring plank, and a sprin plank seat member having a surface adapte to receive said plank, said seat member being .provided with depending longitudinal] ex- 10. The combination with a car truck side frame having a bolster opening, of a spring plank extending into said opening, and a.

spring plank seatmember provided with depending longitudinal flanges adapted to engage adjacent portions of the side frame, said seat member having transversely disposed upstanding flanges bridging said depending flanges, said seat member being provided with laterally extending portions upon each side of the bolster opening, said laterally extending portions serving to unite the intersecting transverse and longitudinal flanges and providing a seating surface of relatively large area for a spring plank.

11. The combination with a car truck side frame having a bolster opening, of a spring -plank extending into said opening and a seat member provided with depending vertically disposed ribs adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the side frame and transversely acting to transfer the transverse'loads longitudinally of the side frame.

7. The combination with a car truck side.

frame, of a spring plank, and a spring plank seat member having a surface adapted to receive said plank, said seatmember being provided withv an upstanding transversely arranged rib adjacent each end thereof and extending substantially the full width of the seatmember, and longitudinally extending ribs intersecting said transverse ribs and arranged to embrace neighboring portions of the side frame.

8. The combination with a car truck side seat member having a surface adapted to rece1ve said plank, said seat member being provlded w1th transversely extend-ing ribs disposed upstanding ribs bridging said depending ribs, the end portions of said transverse ribs extending beyond the depending ribs, said seat member being formed with laterally extending portions adapted to unite the longitudinal and transverse ribs upon each side of the bolster opening, and means connecting said transverse ribs and lalterlglly extending portions to the spring an v 12. The combination with a car truck side frame having a bolster opening, of a spring plank extending into said opening and a seat member provided with depending vertically disposed ribs adapted to embrace adjacent portions of the side frame and transversely disposed upstanding ribs bridging said depending ribs, the end portions of said transverse ribs extending beyond the depending ribs, said seat member being formed with laterally extending portions adapted to unite the longitudinal and transverse rib" 'upon each sideof the bolster opening, and means including rivets connecting the spring plank to said transverse ribs and laterally extendprojecting upon each side of the side frame I and connected to the spring plank, and longitudinally extending ribs intersecting said ing portions, at least one of the rivet-s providing'a projection for preventing the dis placement of the bolster springs.

ion

13. The combination'w itlia cartru'ck side frame having truck columns and a bolster opening, of a spring plank extending into said opening and having its side edges di sposed in relatively close proximity to sald' truck columns, and a spring plank seat memher having depending portions adapted to embrace neighboring portions of the side frame, said seat member being provided .With upstanding transversely disposed por- -tions connected to said depending portions and to the sides of said spring plank.

14:. The combination with a wrought metal car, truck side frame having a bolster opening, of a spring plank extending into said opening, and means connecting said spring plank to the side frame for uniformly distributing the loads thereto, said-means comprising a spring plank seat member having longitudinally extending ribs adapted to engage adjacent portions of the side frame and transversely extending ribs connected to said longitudinally extending ribs and to the spring plank.

15. A; spring plank construction involving a channelspring plank and seat member,'

said seat member having longitudinally disposed flanges and transversely disposed flanges, said transverse flanges bridging and intersecting said longitudinal flanges adjacent the ends of the seat member, and means connecting said transverse flanges to the flanges of the channel spring plank at points outslde of the longitudinal flanges.

16. A spring plank seat member comprising a body portion forming a relatlvely large seating area, longitudinally disposed flanges depending from said body portion,

transversely arranged flanges projecting upwardly from said body portion, and rein' forcing angular flanges for said transverse flanges at each end of the seat member,.s aid reinforcing flanges beingarranged in almement with the body portion and depending flanges, respectively, of the seat member.

17. In combination, a car truck side frame having inner and outer wallsarranged in spaced relation, each of said walls'having a plurality of truck column portions and bottom arch bar portions, stiffening flanges bordering said side wall portions, a'sprmg plank having a portion adapted to rest on the stiffening flanges bordering the bottom arch bar portions and contact said flanges at their junctions with the flanges of the truck column portions, and means including vertically disposed intersecting ribs provided on said spring plank, some of said ribs being adapted to embrace the-side walls longitudinally of the side frame, and other of said ribs uniting said longitudinal ribs and being arranged at an angle thereto for receiving the transverse, forces imparted to the side frame.

18. In combination, a car truck side frame provided with a bolster opening, the metal I of the side frame at the bottom of said opening being of varying cross sectional area, aspring plank vextendmg 1nto said bolster opening, and a spring plank seat member having longitudinal ribs embracing adjacent portions of the side frame, said seat member having portions of relative reduced thickness designed to compensate for the varying increas'ein cross sectional area of the metal beneath the bolsteropening, said seat member being provided with upstanding transverse ribs disposed in closeproximity to the reduced portions of the seat member, said transverse ribs being adapted to bridge the longitudinally disposed ribs axlld lllaving portions connected to the spring p an j 19. A spring plank seat member for wrought metal side frames comprising a frame, of a s ring plank and a seat member having a bo y portion. providing a seating surface forsaid plank, said body ort-ion being formed with longitudinally dlsposed ribs arranged to embrace the side frame and upstanding transversely disposed ribs, bridging the longitudinal ribs spring plank.

In-t'estimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BYERS W. KADEL.

and embracing the 

